How To Open Your Seven Chakras

Sometimes, in the midst of our busy schedules, we might stop to take a look at our lives. And, as we introspect, we might find that stress and strain have taken over our bodies and minds, and we might have deteriorated both physiologically and psychologically. There is nothing to worry about. It might be possible to do a thorough cleanse and awaken your chakras to feel energized, refreshed, and healthy. After all, energy governs our life.

Hindu and Buddhist studies found pools of energy in our bodies that determine our cognitive qualities. There are seven basic chakras, four of which lie in our upper body that regulate our intellectual properties, and three of which supervise our instinctual properties in the lower body.

These are the seven chakras. The Sahasrara chakra or the crown chakra crowns our beings. The Ajna, popularly called the third eye chakra, is right at the center of our forehead. The Visuddhi chakra also called the throat chakra, is dominant at the throat. The heart chakra, known as the Anahata chakra, is at the center of our beings, the heart. The Manipura chakra or the solar plexus chakra lies at the abdomen. The Svadhisthana or sacral chakra lies below the abdomen. The Muladhara chakra, also called the root chakra, lies at the base of our body.

Yoga that channelizes energy is called Kundalini Yoga. It is also known as Laya Yoga and is a stream of yoga that is governed by Tantra and Shaktism. Through pranayama, meditation, asanas, and mantras, the energy points are balanced or activated. Practitioners call this the Yoga of awareness, and it is aimed at propagating the creative and spiritual potential of the human beings so that they can speak the truth, practice high values, be mindful and compassionate of the needs of others, and capable of healing other people.

The Buddhist and Hindu teachings explicitly mention that these healing chakras contribute to our well-being. It is said that our instincts are meant to join forces with our thinking and emotions. While some chakras might be extremely active, some might not be open. It is only if the chakras are balanced that we can be at peace with ourselves and the world around us. Wondering on how to open chakras in a human body? Take a look at how you can awaken and regulate the seven chakras through Kundalini Yoga.

How To Open Chakras

Here is all you need to know about the awareness and opening of the seven chakras:

This chakra is responsible for the spirituality of our beings. It ensures that we become one with the universe and also increases our wisdom. Opening up this chakra ensures that you become open and aware of not just yourself, but also the world around you and your connection with it. You will notice all your prejudices melting away.

But if this chakra is not active enough, you will not be open to spirituality, and you will find yourself having rigid thoughts. If the crown chakra is more active than usual, you will tend to be extremely spiritual, so much that you will forget your basic bodily needs like shelter, food, and water. You will tend to over analyze things.

How To Balance Or Awaken The Crown Chakra

Sit with your legs crossed.

Place your hands in front of your stomach. Make sure that your little fingers are pointing up and away from you, touching each other at the tops. Cross the rest of your fingers, and let your left thumb be placed under your right.

Now, as you close your eyes and begin to meditate, concentrate on your crown chakra. Become aware of all that this chakra stands for.

Then, softly, but clearly, chant this sound – “NG”.

While you do all of this, relax your mind and body, but do not forget your crown chakra.

This is the longest meditation, and you must make sure you do this for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Caution

This meditation must be done only after the root chakra is not only open but also strong. Therefore, you must deal with this chakra last. You need to have a strong foundation to awaken this chakra, which is made possible only by the opening of the root chakra.

Keeping The Crown Chakra Balanced Through The Corpse Pose Or Savasana

This asana, if it helps to balance out the crown chakra, can help you detach from your ego and lift your mood. The crown chakra helps you connect with the spiritual and also with all things beautiful. This chakra helps you understand yourself, and teaches you to accept the fact that you are a spiritual being that is only having a human experience. When you do the Savasana to channelize the energy in the crown chakra, it helps you attain a sense of spiritual attachment.

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How To Do The Savasana

Lie flat on the floor, ensuring that there will be no disturbance for the duration of the pose. Make sure you are comfortable, but don’t use any pillows or cushions. It will be best if you lie on a hard surface.

Close your eyes.

Place your legs such that they are comfortably apart. Make sure your legs relax completely and your toes are facing sidewards.

Your arms must be placed along your body and slightly apart, leaving your palms open and facing upwards.

Now, slowly draw attention to every area of your body, starting from your toes. As you do this, breathe slowly, yet deeply, setting your body in a state of deep relaxation. Do not fall asleep in the process.

Breathe slowly, yet deeply. This will impart complete relaxation. As you breathe in, your body will be energized, and as you breathe out, your body will calm down. Focus on yourself and your body, forgetting all other tasks. Let go and surrender! But make sure you don’t doze off.

In about 10 to 12 minutes, when your body feels relaxed and refreshed, roll to one side, keeping your eyes closed. Stay in the position for a minute, until you sit up in Sukhasana.

Take a few deep breaths and gain awareness of your surroundings before you open your eyes again.

Precautions & Contraindications

This asana is absolutely safe and can be practiced by anyone and everyone. Unless your doctor has advised you not to lie on your back, you can practice this asana.

If you are pregnant, it might be a good idea to rest your head and chest on a bolster for comfort.

Ajna Or Third Eye Chakra

This chakra determines insight, and when it is open, you will not only have an amazing intuition, a sixth sense of sorts, but you will also tend to dream a lot.

But if this chakra is not active enough, you will look up to other people to make decisions for you. You will be confused, and will entirely rely on beliefs, which can be misleading. If the third eye chakra is overactive, you will live in an imaginative world, and in extreme cases, you could daydream or even have hallucinations.

How To Balance Or Awaken The Third Eye Chakra

Sit erect with your legs crossed.

Place your hands before the lower part of your breasts. The middle finger must be straight and touching each other at the tops, but pointing away from you. The other fingers must be bent, and must touch each other at the upper phalanges. Your thumbs must point towards you and meet each other at the tops.

Close your eyes and concentrate on the Ajna chakra. Become aware of what it stands for. Remember, this chakra is placed a little above the center of your eyebrows.

Softly, but legibly, chant “OM’.

As you relax and meditate, think about how this chakra affects your life, or how you want it to affect your life.

You can meditate for as long as you like, until your mind feels cleansed and refreshed.

Keeping The Ajna Chakra Balanced Through The Easy Pose Or Sukhasana

This asana opens up your mind to new learnings when you practice it to balance out your Ajna chakra. It helps you strengthen your intuition and believe in your instincts. This chakra governs the functioning of the rest of the chakras. Hence, it is extremely essential to balance it out.

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How To Do The Sukhasana

Sit on your buttocks. Cross your legs inwards, placing your left leg first, and the right leg across it. Your knees must separate and cross your shins as you slide both your feet under the opposite knees.

Ensure a comfortable gap between your feet and your pelvis.

Now place your palms on your knees and straighten your back so that your body does not lean backward. Make sure your spine isn’t rounded.

You must balance your spine over your pelvis and feel your body being in the center, neither lean forward nor backward. You must also feel your thighs roll outward, and your knees press towards the ground.

Visuddhi Or Throat Chakra

This chakra deals with communication and self-expression. An open throat chakra helps you express yourself with ease. Your creative side will emerge and become a means of self-expression.

If this chakra is not active, you will be shy, and you will speak less. If you find yourself lying too much, it could be an indicator of this chakra being blocked altogether. An overly active throat chakra will make you talk too much and listen less, which could turn off a whole lot of people.

How To Balance Or Awaken The Throat Chakra

Sit on your knees. You can even assume the Vajrasana.

On the insides of your hands, cross your fingers, leaving out your thumbs. The thumbs need to be pulled up a bit and must touch each other at the top.

Now, close your eyes and concentrate on this chakra that is located at the base of the throat. Become aware of everything it stands for.

Softly and clearly, chant “HAM”.

As you do this, relax your mind and body, and keep concentrating on the throat chakra, what it means, and how you want it to affect your life.

Five minutes into the meditation, you will feel cleansed already. You can then decide to either continue or end your meditation.

Keeping The Throat Chakra Balanced Through The Supported Shoulderstand Or Salamba Sarvangasana

This asana will help you find your voice and help you express your views better if you practice it to balance out the throat chakra. You will become more outspoken.

How To Do The Sarvangasana

Then, with one swift movement, lift your legs, buttocks, and back, such that your elbows support your lower body, and you stand high on your shoulders. Use your hands to support your back.

As you settle down in the pose, make sure you move your elbows closer to each other. Straighten your spine and your legs. Your body weight should lie on your shoulders and upper arms. Do not support your body on your neck or your head.

Firm up your legs and point your toes out. Hold the posture for about 30 to 60 seconds. Breathe deeply while you do so. If you feel any kind of strain on your neck, release immediately.

Anahata Or Heart Chakra

This chakra brings about feelings of love, care, and endearment. When this chakra opens up, you will be warm, friendly, and compassionate, with a whole lot of amicable relationships in your kitty.

If this chakra isn’t active enough, you will tend to be close, unfriendly, and cold. An overactive heart chakra could lead you to suffocate people with your love so much so that you tend to seem selfish.

How To Balance Or Awaken The Heart Chakra

Sit with your legs crossed.

Place your left hand on your left knee, and your right hand right in front of the lower part of the breastbone. The tips of your thumb and index fingers must touch each other.

Close your eyes. Concentrate on the heart chakra, and become aware of what it stands for.

Chant the sound “YAM” clearly, but softly.

While you do this, relax and think of this chakra and its effects on your life.

Meditate for five minutes every day, or until you feel cleansed and refreshed.

Keeping The Heart Chakra Balanced Through The Camel Pose Or Ustrasana

This asana works wonders in making you loving, empathetic, and more joyful when you practice it to balance out your heart chakra. It will awaken the power of unconditional love, and make you more prone to accept and forgive.

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How To Do The Ustrasana

Begin the asana by kneeling on your mat and placing your hands on your hips.

You must ensure that your knees and shoulders are in the same line and that the soles of your feet are facing the ceiling.

Inhale, and draw your tailbone in towards your pubis. You must feel the pull at the navel.

While you are doing that, arch your back and gently slide your palms over your feet and straighten your arms.

Keep your neck in a neutral position. It should not be strained.

Hold the position for about 30 to 60 seconds before you release the pose.

Precautions And Contraindications

It is best to practice this asana under the supervision of a yoga instructor. If you have a back or neck injury, or if you are suffering from either low or high blood pressure, it is best you avoid this asana.

Manipura Chakra Or Solar Plexus

This chakra is one of the most important chakras as it deals with confidence, especially when you are among other people. An open solar plexus gives you a feeling of dignity and a sense of control over things.

However, if this chakra is not as active as it should be, you will tend to be indecisive and passive. An overactive solar plexus will make you aggressive and overbearing.

How To Balance Or Awaken The Solar Plexus

Sit on your knees, ensuring your back is erect. Your stance must be relaxed.

Place your hands on your stomach, slightly lower than your solar plexus. All your fingers must join each other at the tops, and must be pointed away from you. Most importantly, you must cross your thumbs while keeping your fingers straight.

Relax while you do this, spreading calm and peace across your mind and body, but do not lose awareness of the solar plexus. Think about how you want this chakra to change your life.

Do this until you feel clean and refreshed.

Keeping The Manipura Chakra Balanced Through The Navasana Or Boat Pose

When you practice this asana to balance out the Manipura chakra, it will effectively foster a personal change or enhance the power of self. You will get a great confidence boost and have an increased self-esteem.

Svadhisthana Or Sacral Chakra

This chakra governs the sexual needs of the body. An open sacral chakra leads to freedom and smooth flow of sexual energy, without you being over-emotional about it. You will be comfortable to get into a relationship, and will be not open about it but also passionate while you are in it. An open Svadhisthana chakra will ensure you have no sexual dysfunctions.

However, if this chakra is underactive, you tend to lose interest and are devoid of emotions. If your chakra is overactive, you will be emotional and sensitive all the time. You may also have a constant need for sexual activity.

How To Balance Or Awaken The Sacral Chakra

Sit on your knees, with your back straight, but relaxed.

Place your hands in your lap, with your palms facing upwards, and one over the other. Keep your left hand under your right, such that the fingers are overlapped. In other words, the fingers of your left hand will be placed under your right hand, but the rest of your left palm will be as exposed as your right.

Close your eyes and concentrate on your sacral chakra. Gain awareness of what it stands for.

Softly, but clearly, chant “VAM”.

As you completely relax, think about the chakra and how you want it to affect your life.

Meditate until you feel cleansed and refreshed.

Keeping The Sacral Chakra Balanced Through The Goddess Pose Or Deviasana

Practicing this asana will generate not only creativity but also emotional stability. Since this chakra governs the sexual energies in the body, this asana also plays a part in enhancing fertility as it balances out the chakra.

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How To Do The Deviasana

Begin the asana with the mountain pose. Place your arms by your sides, and let them rest comfortably on the hips.

Widen your feet such that they are placed at least four feet apart. Turn your toes outward. Take a deep breath.

As you exhale, bend your knees, and make sure they are over your toes. Lower your hip into a squat. Your thighs must be perfectly parallel to the floor. But this must happen with practice once you are perfectly comfortable with squatting.

Stretch out your arms to the sides such that they are at your shoulders’ height. Your palms must face downwards. Then, gently bring your palms together in a Namaste mudra at your chest. Your forearms should be at a 90-degree angle.

Make sure your tailbone is tucked in, and your hips are pressed forward as your thighs are drawn at the back. Your knees must be in line with your toes, and shoulders must be softened as you gaze into the horizon.

Hold the pose for about half a minute, and slowly release the pose in the same order that you got into it.

Precautions And Contraindications

It is best to avoid this asana if you recently had an injury in your back, shoulders, legs, or hips. Be mindful of how much your body can push at all times. It is best to consult your doctor if you have medical concerns, and only then practice yoga.

Muladhara Or Root Chakra

This chakra is all about being aware of your physical self and being comfortable in your skin so that you can go out and face the world, no matter the situation. An open root chakra will leave you feeling secure, sensible, and stable. You will learn to trust people, but not without reason. You will live in the present and stay connected to your physical being.

An underactive root chakra will make you nervous and fearful, while an overactive root chakra will make you materialistic and greedy and unwilling to change.

How To Balance Or Awaken The Root Chakra

To balance the root chakra, you need to become aware of your body. Any physical activity, be it yoga, exercise, or even cleaning the house, will familiarize you with your body, and therefore, will strengthen the chakra.

You can also ground yourself and meditate to be more aware of your body.

To ground yourself, you must connect with the ground and feel it under you. Stand upright, but stay relaxed. Spread your feet shoulder width apart, and gently bend your knees slightly.

Move your pelvis forward. Check if your body is balanced, and your weight is equally distributed between both your feet.

Sink your weight forward, and hold this position for a few minutes. Your body is now grounded.

Now, sit with your legs crossed.

Place your palms on your knees, with your thumb and index fingers gently touching each other.

Close your eyes and concentrate on this chakra that lies between your anus and genitals. Gain complete awareness of everything this chakra stands for.

Softly, but clearly, chant “LAM”.

Relax and think about this chakra and how you want it to change your life.

Meditate till you feel refreshed and cleansed. As you meditate, visualize a closed red flower and powerful energy passing through it, such that it opens up the petals. Breathe deeply before you open your eyes.

Keeping The Root Chakra Balanced Through The Tree Pose Or Vriksasana

This asana helps you feel secure, stable, and more alert. This chakra influences the ties with your family and your survival instincts. It also governs the sense of belonging and how guarded you are. Some of the earliest memories you create are stored in this chakra, and these memories also include whether the basic needs are met or not.

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How To Do The Vrikshasana

Stand absolutely erect and drop your arms to the side of your body.

Slightly bend your right knee, and then, place the right foot high up on your left thigh. Make sure that the sole is placed firm and flat on the root of the thigh.

Your left leg needs to be absolutely erect. Once you have assumed this position, breathe, and find your balance.

Now, inhale, and gently raise your arms over your head and bring them together in a ‘namaste’ mudra.

Look straight at a distant object and hold your gaze. This will help you maintain balance.

Keep your spine straight. Note that your body needs to be taut, yet elastic. Take in deep breaths, and every time you exhale, relax your body more.

Gently bring your hands down from the sides, and release the right leg.

Come back to the original position of standing tall and straight as you did at the beginning of the practice. Repeat this pose with the left leg.

Precautions And Contraindications

While practicing this asana, you must ensure that the sole of the lifted foot is placed preferably above or, in some cases, below the standing knee, but never beside it. Placing the foot beside the knee puts pressure on the knee as it does not flex parallel to the frontal plane.

Those who suffer from high blood pressure should not raise their arms above the head for a long period of time. They can be held at the chest in the ‘anjali’ mudra.

Awakening your chakras is more important than you think. Imagine yourself living every moment to the fullest, bustling with energy, and ready to achieve everything you have ever wanted to. Well balanced or open chakras can make that happen.

Now that you know how to open your chakras, what are you waiting for? Awaken your chakras now and share your experience by commenting below.